PMQs: David Cameron tells the English to drop their 'grievances' and celebrate Scotland's place in the UK

David Cameron is sometimes accused of being a bit light on ideology, caricatured as shallow PR man much as Tony Blair was. That's unfair in several regards, not least when it comes to the Union.

Unlike some of his senior Tory colleagues, Mr Cameron is a proper Unionist, who truly believes that the UK must continue and Scotland remain a part of it. His belief is such that he's even prepared to say difficult things to the English about the Union.

PMQs was a good example. Frank Field, a respected (and independent-minded) Labour MP challenged the PM to think of the English. Surely they should have a say on any plan to alter the terms of the Union and give the Scots more power? England deserves "equity" with Scotland, Mr Field said.

A lot of MPs on both sides of the House agree with that. But Mr Cameron had little time for the suggestion. Instead of encouraging "grievances" among the English, "I want my fellow Englishmen to feel this is a successful partnership."

In essence, Mr Cameron thinks Englishmen should spend less time complaining about what the Scots have and they don't. Instead, they should celebrate Scotland's place in the Union.

Something tells me that may prove a hard sell.

UPDATE

For the record, here is a more complete note of Mr Cameron's reply:

"We want to make sure devolution works for everyone in the UK.

The UK has been an incredibly successful partnership between all its members and far from wanting to appeal to English people to nurture a grievance they feel, I want to appeal to my fellow Englishmen to say, 'This has been a great partnership for Scotland and a great partnership for England too'.

"Of course Scotland must make its choice, but we hope Scotland will choose to remain in this partnership that has done so well for the last 300 years."